Scaffolding



Oct. 17, 1961 F. A. YENCH, SR 3,

SCAFFOLDING Filed Dec. 8, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 g I 33 32 a3 58 as 32x E 33 IN V EN TOR.

Frank A. Yench 3/:

BY Mu; M! 3 Oct. 17, 1961 F. A. YENCH, s

SCAFFOLDING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 8, 1959 INVENTOR. Frank A. Yench, sr.

3,004,621 SCAFFOLDING Frank A. Yench, Sr., Two Rivers, Wis.

Filed Dec. 8, 1959, Ser. No. 858,093 2 Claims. (Cl. 182-418) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 646,330, filed March 15, 1957, now abandoned.

, The present invention relates to scaffolding and more particularly to scaffolding of the type partially supported by an adjacent wall or other supporting surface.

A primary object'of the invention is to provide scaffolding which can be vertically adjusted in an expedient manner and which may moveover be quickly and easily assembled in multiple units to attain the desired length.

Another object of this invention is to provide scaffolding of the class described which has ladder portions combined directly with the main frame and formingan integral part thereof so that additional ladders are unnecessary for mounting the scaffold.

An additional object of my invention is to provide an improved scaffold adapted to be assembled in single or multiple units, each unit of which has but a single pair of laterally spaced and vertically adjustable ground engaging legs which permit use on somewhat irregular terrain.

A still further object of the invention is to provide scaffolding of the class described which is inexpensive to manufacture, simple to assemble and dismantle at the site, and which is exceptionally sturdy and safe in use.

Other objects and advantages of the presentinventi n will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in the light of the accompanying drawings in-which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a typical scaffold assembled in multiple units and embodying the invention, the ground supporting legs being extended to their fullest extent;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the improved scaffold with the legs fully extended and showing the same in work- 'ing condition supported by a wall;

FIG. 3 is a similar end view of the improved scaffold but showingthe legs in an intermediate position;

FIG. 4 is another similar end view of the same scaffold but showing the legs in retracted condition; 7

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary andpart sectional viewv of the lower leg portion of the scaffold in the same j condition as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a similarly enlarged and fragmentary part sectional view of the lower portion of the scaffold in the condition shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is another similarly enlarged fragmentary view of the lower portion of the scaffold in the same condition as shown in FIG. 4; andv FIG. 8 is a still further enlarged fragmentary and cross-sectional view of one of the upper wall' engaging rollers of the scafiold.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters are used to designate the same or similar parts in the several views, the reference numeral 20 has been used to indicate generally a scaffold unit embodying the in- United States Patent 0 3,004,621 Patented Oct. 17, 1951 from the tubular member 22 and diverging upwardly therefrom, the first and second tubular members 22, 23

respectively being rigidly interconnected by a plurality.

of vertically spaced horizontal rungs 24. As shown, the tubular member 22 of each end frame is somewhat longer than the tubular member 23 of the frame so as to extend above the uppermost rung 25 thereof.

The end frames 21 of each scaffold unit 20 are joined by bracing means in the form of cross braces 27, 28 extending therebetween and secured to the first tubular members 22 thereof as by means of threaded stud-and wing nut assemblies 29, the cross braces 27, 28 also being secured to each other at their medial portions in a suitable manner as indicated at 30. To aid in maintaining the frames 21 in laterally spaced relation and in sturdy and rigid condition, the upper ends of the first tubular members 22 are also joined by one or more bars or struts 31, 32 which also form a convenient safety and hand gripping rail for the upper working platform, the rails 31, 32 also being secured to the respective tubular members 22 as by means of threaded studs and vw'ng nuts 33; and the upper ends of the second tubular members 23 are joined by a bar or strut 34 secured thereto in like manner by threaded studs and wing nuts 35 (see FIGS. 2, 3 and 4).

To support the upper end of each scaffold unit 20 in proper upright position against a wall indicated by the numeral 39 in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, bearing means, such as a caster assemblage 36, is provided for each side frame 22. As shown in FIG. 8, the caster wheel assemblage 36 may be conveniently secured to the uppermost rung 25 by telescoping or slip fitting the mounting shaft 37 of the Wheel assemblage within the extending end of, the rung 25 and then securing the same as by a suitable nut and bolt 38 passing through the rung and the caster wheel shaft 37. The use of the caster wheel assemblies 36 furthermore facilitates movement of the scaffold units along the supporting surface as when the height of the scaffold is being adjusted.

Each of the end frames 22 is furthermore provided with an adjustable ground supporting leg 40 in the form of a tube or rod telescopically received in the lower end of each first tubular member 22, each of the legs 40 being provided with a suitable number of vertically spaced apertures 41 adapted to receive a pin 42 carried by the lower end of the tubular member 22, the pin being laterally displaceable manually by the operator to permit proper adjustment of the leg 40 and being adapted to engage in the selected aperture 41 to secure the leg in properly adjusted position. Each leg 40 is furthermore provided with a lower ground engaging pad .43 preferably pivotally attached to the leg by a pin 44 or the like so as to adjust itself to the conformation of the ground represented by the numeral 45.

As indicated, the legs 40 are telescopically received in their respective tubular members 22 and are vertically adjustable to any one of several extended positions, and to additionally brace the legs 40 of adjacent frames 22 of each unit, cross braces47, 48 may be provided, the cross braces 47, 48 being secured to the legs 40 as by means of threaded studs and wing nuts 49, and also being suitably secured to each other at their medial portions as at 50. The legs are also joined by a strut 51 or the like to provide added strength and to maintain the legs 40 in proper alignment so that the holes 41 are always in proper position to receive the pin 42, and the struts 51 may also be conveniently secured to the lower portions of the legs by means of threaded studs and wing nuts 52 as clearly shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7.

When the scaffolding thus described is used on relatively low work with the legs thereof in retracted condition as shown in FIG. 4, the rungs 24 may obviously be readily reached from the ground and used as a ladder for climbing to an upper platform 53 which may be positioned on any desired corresponding pair of rungs of each unit. However, when the legs 40 are extended as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rungs cannot be readily reached from the ground. In such instances, each of the end frames 21 is provided with means such as shown and comprising a tubular strut or rod 55 suitably secured as by means of a connector pin 57 (see FIG. 6) slip fit and secured within the tubular strut 55 and adapted to be telescopically received within the tubular member 23, the strut 55 also being secured at its lower end to the lower portion of the leg 40 as by means of the stud and wing nut 52 securing the brace 51 to the leg. Each of the struts 55 has one or more vertically spaced horizontal rungs 56 secured thereto as by welding or the like, and in addition to bracing and strengthening the legs 40 when in extended condition, the rungs 56 on the struts 55 cooperate with the horizontal rungs 24 of the frames 21 to provide a ladder at each end or side of the scaffold unit.

To extend the scaffolding laterally and thereby provide a longer Working area than that aiforded by a single unit, it is only necessary to join adjacent units to each other by means of cross-braces 27, 28 and 47, 48 as herein above described and as shown by dot-and-dash lines in FIG. 1, or as an alternative, the units may be joined by horizontal rails 58, 59, 60, 61 as illustrated by full lines. In the later case, the rails 58, 59 may be conveniently secured to adjacent tubular members 22 as by means of the same studs and wing nuts 33 as are used to secure the rails 31, 32 thereto, and the rails or bars 60, 61 may similarly be secured to the adjacent tubular members 22 as by means of the same studs and wing nuts 29 as are used to secure the cross braces 27, 28 thereto. It is thus apparent that any desired number of scaffold units 21 may be joined together to provide a multiple unit structure of any desired length.

In addition to providing convenient access ladders at each end of each of the scaffold units 21, the rungs 24 joining the tubular members 22, 23 may be used for receiving a suitable elongated platform 53 which may, of course, be positioned upon any selected corresponding pairs of rungs depending upon the desired height.

From the foregoing detailed description, it is believed apparent that the improved scaffold units 20 may be readily assembled in a convenient manner without need for special tools, and these units may obviously be utilized singly or in multiple units as above described. The assembled units are then placed against a wall 39 or the like with the casters 36 hearing against such supporting surface and with the pads or feet 43 bearing on the ground. The scaffolding is thus supported by the ground and wall, and it is preferable to have the scaffold supported at a slight angle to the supporting surface as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 in order to maintain proper rigidity. The scaffolding may obviously be readily dismantled or collapsed into convenient flat sections to provide a readily transportable package, and it may moreover be readily re-assembled or erected for use on relatively rough and uneven terrain. Adjustments in height may obviously be made without dismantling or removing the units from upright and supported condition by merely displacing the pins 42 from the apertures formed in the legs 40 and then extending or retracting the legs as desired until a different position of adjustment has been reached, at which time the pins 42 are caused to again engage the proper aperture in rte-adjusted position. The cross braces 47, 48 may obviously likewise be readily applied to the legs when fully extended and the struts 55 may likewise be applied without need for removing the scaffolding from its support. While any number of apertures may be provided in the legs 40 to thereby facilitate adjustment to a greater or lesser number of positions, the same apertures as are used for receiving the locking pins 42 may be utilized for securing the cross braces 47, 48 to the legs. Also, the locking pin 42 may be in the form of a pin, spring pressed or otherwise, or it may be in the form of a threaded bolt or the like.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein, it should be understood that various modifications may occur to persons skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

'I claim:

1. A knock-down scaffold comprising, a plurality of laterally spaced frames, each of said frames including a first elongated upright tubular member and a second elongated tubular member spaced and diverging upwardly from said first tubular member and terminating short of the upper end thereof, said first and second tubular members being rigidly interconnected by a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal rungs, bracing means extending between adjacent pairs of said frames and secured to the first tubular members thereof for maintaining said frames in rigid laterally spaced relation, a safety rail extending between adjacent pairs of said frames and secured to the upper ends of the first tubular members thereof above the upper ends of the second tubular members, means telescopically received for longitudinal adjustment in the lower ends of the first tubular members of adjacent pairs of said frames and providing ground engaging legs supporting and spacing said frames from the ground, a strut secured to each of said legs and interconnecting the leg and the second tubular member of eachof said frames for bracing each of said legs when in extended condition, and means forming horizontal rungs on said struts cooperating with the horizontal rungs of said frames to provide a ladder.

Q. A knock-down scaffold comprising, a plurality of laterally spaced frames, each of said frames including a first elongated upright tubular .mcrn'ber and a second elongated tubular member spaced and diverging upwardly from said first tubular member, said first and second tubular members being rigidly interconnected by a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal rungs, bracing means extending between adjacent pairs of said frames and secured to the first tubular members thereof for maintaining said frames in rigid laterally spaced relation, means telescopically received for longitudinal adjustment in the lower ends of the first tubular members of adjacent pairs of said frames and providing ground engaging legs supporting and spacing said frames from the ground, a strut secured to each of said legs and interconnecting the leg and the second tubular member of each of said frames for bracing each of said legs when in extended condition, and means forming horizontal rungs on said struts cooperating with the horizontal rungs of said frames to provide a ladder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

